Thread: Discouraged- need pep talk

Hi everybody, thanks again for all of the good feedback. I found it very encouraging. Some people advised to post my location so I updated my profile with it. I'm in Pflugerville, TX just outside of Austin.

I've had what I think is a positive development with my journey. As I was reading the replies I really began to come to the conclusion that my blades weren't sharp and that I'd in all likelihood dulled them using my horrible stropping technique. That would explain why I only got a couple of good shaves early on when they were freshly honed then it all went down hill. So thinking if I could take that part out of the equation and just concentrate on technique with a blade I knew was always sharp and shave ready it would help. So, I bought a Feather Artist Club DX straight handle kamisori style razor and some pro blades. It's ridiculously expensive but I had read that its experience was most like a traditional straight. So I just received it and gave it try this week, and all I have to say is WOW. It was an amazing experience. I was very careful after reading how unforgiving it could be, but holy cow, that thing licked the hair off my face so easily I scarcely even felt the blade. A couple of weepers and a tiny cut after it was all said and done, but the shave was so good overall I didn't even need to finish up with the DE to be presentable. I was so excited. I felt like a success. I felt like a man! haha. I had always dismissed shavette style razors in the past because I wanted to be a total purist, but I am SO glad I finally gave it a try. That thing is amazing and like nothing I've ever tried before. My confidence and enthusiasm has instantly skyrocketed after using it. So I'm planning to use it every day I can and track my progress though a hundred shaves and stay committed. Should be a lot easier since there's no real maintenance involved. I also picked up a folding SS model on ebay for $55 brand new so I could try the same form factor as my real straights as well. In the meantime, I'll get my real straights re-honed or touched up and work on my stropping technique more deliberately and mindfully. Just wanted to say thank you to all of you for the encouraging words and advice.
Matt

Yes, I too like the Feather Artist Club DX.

I own three, one resin folding handle for travelling that I bought first; and I liked it so much that I bought another resin folding handle for home and added later a teakwood folding handle for home too. For whatever reason, I was never itempted enough to try the kamisori style.

I use normally the Professional blades, but have also a cache of Pro Super blades.
The difference in shave between the two is fairly small and I have no pronounced preference between the blades - if anything, I lean more towards the Professional.

I did notice that the Feather AC blades are initially harsh and need a shave or two to mellow and reach peak performance.
I get approximately 10 shaves out of them, about three more than I get out of good DE blades, which I rarely use any longer.


It's all in the name: Feather - they work best with a feather-light touch and slightly shallower angle than a traditional straight.
Conversely, you will pay the price for much pressure or a too steep angle.

They are good razors and I believe that unlike light-weight Dovo-style shavettes the transition from a Feather DX to a traditional straight razor will be very easy.


Good luck on your journey.


B.